Road-working device



April 6 ,1926.

G. C. BROWN ROAD WORKING' DEVICE 'Filed' Jan. 31. 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

PATENT OFFICE.

GRANT BROWN, OF DBESSER JUNCTION, WISCONSIN.

ROAD-WORKING DEVICE.

Application led January $1, 1923. Serial No. 616,018.

To all whom t may camera.'

Be it known that I, GRANT C. BROWN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Dresser Junction, in the county of Polk'and Sta-te of Wisconsin, have invented l'certain new and useful Improvements in RoadlVorking Devices; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a road working device, and particularly to a machinel adapted for maintaining roads in proper condition and for cleaning the same. It is well known that most roads made from loose material are made with their surfaces sloping to eachside from the center. The material has therefore a natural tendency to work off to the sides of the road and in maintaining and repairing such roads it is a common operation to scrapeor otherwise move the material from the sides of the road toward the center to re-shape the road and to ll in any recesses which may have worn therein. There are also now many hard surfaced roads ,suchy as those made from concrete and it is desirable in winter to remove the snow from such roads and also at other seasons to remove accumulated 'dirt and refuse therefrom.

It is an object of this invention,"therefore, to construct a machine which is eicient for moving the material onto the surface of the roads not.v having the rigid surfaces and which will also be efficient for cleaning such roads as well as hard surfaced roads.

It is a further object of the invention to` provide .suchl a machine comprising la wheeled vvframe havmg revoluble road engaging .members diverging from the central line ofthe frame toward one end thereof, which members may be driven in either direction.

It is also. an object of the invention to provide such a machine in which such revoluble members are formed as helical brushes and to further provide means for raising and lowering said members both together and independently and to provide means by which said members may be readily moved toward and from each other.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be fully set forth inthe following description made in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to -the same parts throughout the different views, and in whichy Fig. 1 is a plan view of the machine; y Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation thereof; Fig. 3 is a vertical sectiontaken on the line 3-3 ofFig. 2, as indicated by the arrows; l

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section takensubstantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2; and Fig..5 is a view in end elevation ofthe machine, as seen from the right of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises a frame structure comprising a. main frame and an auxiliary frame, said main frame having spaced longitudinal members 1 and transverse end members 2,

which members, in the embodiment of the'invention illustrated are shown as being formed of standard channels secured together by rivets or in any other suitable manner. The frame also comprises a plurality of transverse members 3 preferably formed of standard structural steel and secured to the longitudinal members by being bolted to suitable angle pieces which are, in turn, bolted to the main frame. The said frame is carried on trucks comprising holsters 4 of any suitable construction to which are secured the housing or bearing for axles on which are mounted the wheels 5. The frame is secured at each end to a rotatable center plate 6 so that the axles can turn about the center thereof and said plates and bolsters are provided with suitably spaced holes 7 through which may be placed eye-bolts or pins 8 when it is desired to hold the axles at right angles to the longitudinal center line of the frame. The machine is adapted to be drawn or propelled in either direction and for this purpose a tongue member having a yoke 9 secured thereto may be connected to suitable clevises 10 on the axle housing at either end of the machine.

Depending from the main frame and the transverse member 3 thereof, are guide members -11 having horizontal portions 12 extending toward the center of theframe and an auxiliary rectangular frame 13 is arranged to be disposed in and guided by the members 11. The auxiliary frame comprises spaced longitudinal and end members preferably formed of standard channels with the anges thereof directed in` wardly, as shown inFigs. 1 and 3. ySaid auxiliary frame has fixed therein substantially at the corners thereof nut members 14 through which pass and engage the vertically disposed screw shafts 15 journaled in the lower portions 12 of the guide members 11 and in transverse plates 16 extending across the main fra-me and secured to the members 1 thereof, and said shafts are provided wth a collar 17 above the plate 16 and below the members 12 to prevent longitudinal movement thereof. The shafts 15 have secured to the upper end thereof beveled gears 18 arranged to mesh at one end of the frame with pinions 19 secured to a shaft 20 extending transversely of the frame and said gears 18 are also arranged to mesh at both ends of the frame with beveled gears 21 secured to both ends of a pair of shafts 22 extending longitudinally at the sides of the frame. The shafts 2O and 22 are carried in brackets 23 having hubs or bearings thereon receiving said shafts and against which the beveled gears 18, 19 and 21 abut at one end Vof the frame. Similar bearings 24 are used at the other end of the framer to holdthe shfts 22 in proper relation to the screw shafts 15. One 'of the shafts 22 is provided at its end shown as the right hand end of Fig. 1, with a crank handle 25 by of the main frame.

means of which the shaft may be rotated. It will be seen that by rotating this latter shaft 22, simultaneous motion will be imparted to all of the screw shafts 15 t0 raise and lower the auxiliary frame 13. 1t will be also noted that the auxiliary frame is of such dimensions that it can be elevated so as to be disposed between the side members 1 of the main frame.

Y The auxiliary frame is provided with suitable angularly shaped guide members 2G in which a pair of arms 27 of arcuate or segmental shape are adapted to slide and said arms are formed with a central slot and have rack teeth 28 formed thereon facing in opposite directions so as to be engaged by a pinion 29 mounted on a vertical shaft 30 journaled in the members'26 anda bearing 3l secured to one of the cross members Said vertical shaft carries at its upper end a gear 32 meshing with a pinion 33 secured to a horizontal shaft 34 extending longitudinally of the frame. The shaft 34 is carried at one end in the bearing 35 through which also passes the upper end of the shaft 30 and againstwhich the gears 32 and 33 abut. The shaft 34 is supported at its other end in a bearing 36 secured to the top of the frame of a motor 37 centrally mounted on the main frame and said shaft 34 is provided at the latter end with a crank handle 38 by which it may be rotated. A small U-shaped bail or yoke 39 is pivoted at each side of the bearing 36 and is adapted to swing down over the crank handle 38 when the latter is in its lower position,as shown in Fig. 2, to hold said crank handle and shaft 34 against rotation. It will be seen that by turning crank 38 and sha-ft 34 that the shaft 30 will be rotated as well as the pinion 29 and the arms 27 moved inwardly and outwardly at the sides of the frame. The arms 27 at their outer ends have upstanding lugs thereon in which are swiveled short shafts or stems projectingfrom nuts or threaded members 40, said shafts or stems being secured in said lugs by suitable collars 41 secured thereto. Passing through and engaging in the members 40 are the screws 42 and said screws are adapted to be turned by beveled gears 43 splined thereto and meshing with beveled gears 44, which latter gears are carried by short shafts projecting through a bearing carried on an arm forming part of the meniber 40 and rigid therewith, as shown in F igs..2 and 3. The rear ends of the shaft carrying the gears 44 are 'connected by universal joints 45 to the shafts 46 which extend toward the side members of the frame `1. The shafts 46 telescope into sleeves 47 in which they are slidable longitudinally but ai'e held against circumferential movement. The sleeves 47 are connected by universal joints 48 to short shafts journaled in bearings 49 carried at the top of upsta-nding rods o r posts secured in the side members 1, which latter shafts are equipped with crank handles 50. It will thus be seen that by turning the handles 50 the screws will, through the connections described, be rotated and will inove upwardly or downwardly through the threaded members 40.

c 'lhescrews 42 extend through and are journaledat their lower ends in hubs formed substantially centrally in the top of yoke members 51, said screws having collars or heads 52 formed at their lower ends for engagement with the' undersides of the yokes 51. The yokes 51 are of consideiable longitudinal extent and have downwardly extending arms provided with bearings in which are ournaled shafts 53 having secured thereon sleeves 54 carrying helical members 55. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated these helical members are shown as formed as brushes which will be made from comparatively stiff and rigid material, but it is obvious that helical blades could also be used, if desired. The axes of the members 53, 54 and 55 andof hubs of the yokes 51, it will be seen, intersect substantially in the longitudinal center line of the frame of the machine and diverge from this point of intersection toward one end of the machine, thus making an acute angle with said longitudinal center line of the Ina`- chine. The yokes 51 have their downwardly extending arms which are nearest the center of the machine equipped with projecting ball members 56 which are received in capped spherical bearings 57 projecting from and preferably formed integral with the transmission casing 58, which casing is secured to the main frame 1 and to suitable cross members secured thereto. The shafts 53 extend through the members 56 and are secured by universal oints 59 disposed substantially centrally o the members 56 and 57 to shafts 60 and 61, respectively. The shaft-s 60 and 61 have secured thereto meshing bev eled gears 62' and the shaft 60 is projected beyond the .beveled gears 62 thereon' and equipped with a helical gear 63 secured thereto` the front end of the shaft being jo'urnaled in a bearing 64 ysecured in the casingv 58. It will be noted also that both shafts 60 and 61 are also journaled in bearings 65 which are also secured in the casing 58. The helical gear 63 meshes with another helical gear 66 secured onA the horizontal shaft 67 journaled in suitable bearings'in the casing: 58 and this shaft 67 has secured thereto a spur gear 68' adapted to mesh with a pinion 69 preferably carried on the transmission shaft 7 0 connected by suitable gearing to the crank shaft of the motor 37, and pinion 69 is adapted to be moved on the shaft 70 into and out of mesh with the gear 68 by a lever 71 journaled in the crank casing 72 of the motor. The invention is not particularly directed to the transmission gearing used in connection with the motor and transmission mechanism, not shown, will preferably be provided which will give a plurality of speeds in reverse directions for the shaft 7 0. This transmission mechanism may be of any desired and standard form. A seat 73 is centrally mounted at one end of the frame adapted to be occu ied by the operator of the machine when the same is drawn, as indicated in Fig. 1 and it will be noted that the crank handles 25, 38 and 50, as well as the lever 71 are disposed within convenient reach of such o erator so as to be easily and quickly manipu ated.

In operation, when the machine is to be transported without operating on the road,

the .handle 25 will be operated so that the auxiliary frame 1s raised sufiiciently to have the members 55 entirely clear of the road surface and these members will be raised asv a unit when the handle 25 is turned. When it is desired to operate on the roadto condition the same and move the dirt from the sides thereof toward the center, the handle 25 will be turned to lower the auxiliary frame and bring the members 55 into suitable engagement with the road surface. It will be noted that, owing to the fact that the yokes 51 swivel in the arms 27 and are connected by universal joints at their inner ends, that the members 55 will position themselves on the inclined sides of the road. The motor 37 will now be o erated andthe shaft 53 driven ythrough tie transmission gearing described to rot-ate the members y55.

These members will now be rotated in the di;y

rection indicated in Figs. 1 and 3 and, owin to the helical form thereof will sweep an move the dirt toward the center of the road, the machine, of course, being drawn along the road during this operation. Where the road conditions make it desirable,- the members 55 and yokes 51 can be independently raised or lowered by turning the proper crank handle 50. The desired surface extent to be treated can also be changed by move-v ment of the crankhandle 38 which will' swing the yokes 51 and members 55 labout their inner ends to increase or decrease the angle therebetween and the extent of the road surface operated on. It will thus be seen that thepsurface of the road can be quickly and evenl treated and conditioned as the machine is rawn therealong.

When it is desired to use the machine to clean snow from a road or to remove other matter therefrom, the motor will be operatedand the transmission adjusted to revolve the shaft 53 and members 55 in the direction opposite to tliatindicated in Figs. 1 and 3. The helical shape lof the members 55 will then tend to scrape the material away" from the center of the road. -In so using the msi-,-

chine, it may be desirable at some times to draw or propel the same in a direction oposite lto that indicated by the arrows 1n gig. 1. This will, however, depend upon the material to be removed and the machine can be drawn in the direction found most desirable. As the members 55 are lmoved inward and outward the yokes will, of course, swing about the universal joints at the inner ends and the shafts 53 will also swing about the universal connection with the shafts 60 and 61. There will thus be no interruption of the drive or operation of these parts due to such swinging movement. The yoke member. 39 can be used as described to hold the crank handle 38 in the position shown.`

From the above description it is seen that applicant has provided a very etlicient and comparatively simple. machine for the puri pose intended. The machine can be umd at all seasons of the year and will thus form both an eicient road re airing machine as well as an eicient snow p ow or road cleaner. The machine frame. preferably is made from structural steel and is very rugged in construction. The partsV of the machine are all rigidly held in position and there is practically no tendency for such parts to become disarranged. As stated, any suitable form ofA transmission mechanism for the motor may be used and a motor of any desired type may be mounted on and used with the machine. The motor illustrated is of the well known internal .combustion engine type.

It will, of course, be understood that vari,- ous changesmay be made inthe form, de-

V tails, arrangement and proportions 4of the parts without departing from the scope of applicants invention, which generally stated, consists in the matter shown and lolescribed and set forth inthe appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A road-making machine having in combination, a frame structure,an arm extending at one side of said frame structure, means for projecting and retracting said arm, a yoke swiveled on said arm, a revoluble member journaled in said yoke and adapted to operate on the road surface, a driving means for said revoluble member carried by said frame, said member being connected to said driving means by a universal joint permitting horizontal and vertical movement of said member. and means for raising and lowering said yoke and member relatively to said arm. l

2. A road Working machine having in combination, a frame structure, arms extending at each side of said frame structure,

a yoke swiveled on and depending from each of said arms adjacent the outer ends thereof, revoluble members journaled in said yokes and adapted to engage and operate on the road Surface, the longitudinal axes of said members and yokes diverging from the center line of the machine toward one end thereof, means for varying the angle be tween sai-d axes and said center line, elevating means carried by said arms and connected to said yokes, means for operating ysaid elevating means from said frame structure, said elevating means comprising nuts swiveled to said arms, screws rotatably secured in said yokes engaging said nuts, and gears splined to said screws. Y

3. The structure set forth in claim 1, said frame structure comprising acmain frame and an auxiliary frame supported thereby and movable vertically relatively thereto,

means for moving said auxiliary frame and' operating members disposed above said main frame for said first-mentioned means, said third mentioned means and saidl last mentioned means, said operating members being in proximity to each other whereby they can be conveniently operated from one position of the operator.

4. A road-making machine having in combination, a frame, arms extending at each side of said frame, a yoke swiveled on each of said arms, revoluble members journaled ported from and projectable and retractable at one side of and adjacent the lower side of said frame structure, a yoke centrally and pivotally carried by and depending from said member adjacent its outer end, a revoluble driven road-treating member journaled in said yoke, means on said frame structure for projecting and retracting said member, andmeans operated from said frame structure for ralsing and lowering said yoke relative to said member whereby the axis of said yoke and revoluble member may be disposed at different angles to the central longitudinal axis of said frame structure and at different heights, and means operable from said frame structure for raising and lowering said first mentioned member. 6. A road-working machine having 1n combinatlon, a rectangular mam frame,

guides beneath said frame, a rectangularV auxiliary frame vertically movable in said guides, means at the four corners of said auxiliary frame for raising and lowering the same, a common operating means on said frame for said means, arms extensible at each side of said auxiliary frame, a common means for extending and retracting said arms, operating means for said latter means disposed adjacent said first mentioned operating means, and revoluble road-treating members supported by saidl arms adjacent their outer ends. 7. A road working machine having in combination, a main frame comprising" spaced longitudinal and transverse members, guide means depen-ding therefrom, a (substantially rectangular auxiliary frame movable in said means, elevating means at the corners of said auxiliary frame` meanson said main frame for operating said elevating means, and a pair of oppositely extending road operating members swivelly mounted on said auxiliary frame.

8. A road working machine having in combination, a main frame, an auxiliary frame mounted therein, arcuate arms extending in o posite directions from the side of said auxiliary frame, oppositely facing racks on said arms, a rotatable pinion engaging said racks to move said arms in opposite directions, bearings swiveled to the outer l ends of said arms about substantially horizontal axes, yokes supported in said bearings yokes relative to the said arms, and independent operating means on said main frame for said last mentioned means which operating means are adjacent said first mentioned 5 operating means.

11. A road-Working machine having in combination, a frame structure, arcuate arms extensible and retractable at each side thereof, nuts swivele'd to said arms adjacent their 10 outer ends, screws passing through and engaging said nuts, gears splined to each of said screws, a yoke centrally pivoted on each of said screws, revoluble road-treating members journaled in said yokes, shafts extending from said main frame structure to said 15 arms having gears thereon meshing with the gears on said screws, and means on said shafts for turning the same to operate said screws and elevate said yokes.

In testimony whereof I afiiX my signature.

GRANT c. BROWN. 

